Benjamin NJOKUShe’s one of the top rated Yoruba actresses, yet she’s the worse hit in terms of bad publicity. One time, she’s accused of snatching another woman’s husband, and at the other time, she’s rumoured to have snatched a colleague’s boyfriend and accused of high-handedness by the upcoming Yoruba actresses.

To ascertain the authenticity of these allegations prompted Showtime Celebrity to go after the quintessential Ikorodu, Lagos State-born actress, Funke Akindele to hear her own side of the story. And you will not be disappointed as she speaks the way she has never done before. We bring to you the true story of Funke Akindele. Enjoy it.

Funke Akindele has become a brand to reckon with, what’s the mystery behind that name?

There’s no mystery behind my name. It’s only God that’s the secret behind that name, Funke Akindele. By His grace, Funke has been able to make a statement so far. And I’m going to achieve more with time. I’m not yet there. This is just a starting point for me.

Is Funke the only name your parents gave to you?

I have two names; Olufunke Ayotunde. Olufunke means: “God has given this child to me to care for”, while Ayotunde means, “my joy has come.’’

Was there any special event during your birth that prepared you for what you are doing today?

I have asked my mum that, and the only thing she told me was that when she was carrying my pregnancy, I gave her a tough time; that she was going in, and out of the hospital. But the only thing I would remember is that when I was young, I was involved in acting, singing and dancing especially during my secondary school days.

As an award winning actress, you name rings bell everywhere you go; does that put pressure on your personal life?

Well, the only pressure it has put on me is to work harder to make better movies; something that will impact positively on the people and my fans . It hasn’t gotten into my head. I’m still myself and it’s by the grace of God that I’m celebrated today.

I pray, I will be there evergreen like the likes of Joke Silva. Sometimes, I may want to be alone, but you find out that there are some fans that would insist on talking with me. I would have no option than to be friendly and grant them audience. That’s some of the pressures I think fame has placed on me.

One of the prices of stardom is undue invasion of one’s privacy and scandals, how much of these prices have you paid so far?

A lot… and I’m still paying. At least, I didn’t understand it initially. When journalists call me on phone at different times to make inquiries or to confirm a particular information, I would quickly get pissed off and angry; “why do you like to dwell on negative stories about me, instead of celebrating me positively.”

My mum who’s always there for me, would advise me to learn to absorb whatever scandals that come my way as a star; adding that some people would want to cook up negative stories just to pull me down and that I should remain focused and prayerful.

It’s normal, and I’m beginning to live with it. But my prayer is that they don’t tarnish my hard earned name in the bid to get at me. Sometimes , it’s painful .

Which of the scandals hit you most?

A lot of them. I don’t want to talk about the scandals now. But the one that really hit me most was when they rumoured that I was arrested at Hauteur for a drug-related offence. I was shocked! At the time, the story made the news in Nigeria, I was never in Hauteur. I used to pass through Hauteur to London, but that week the story made the headlines, I didn’t pass through Hauteur.

So, when I read the story in the newspapers, I was shocked and disappointed. I couldn’t have been arrested for drug-related offence in London while I was back to Nigeria. It’s not possible. I cried when I read the story. Why is it that people are always writing negative stories about me? At that point, I resorted to calling on all my friends in the media to clear the air. I didn’t travel out of Nigeria at the time the story made the news.

And you think mischief makers were not at work then?

I don’t want to believe so; neither do I want to think about it anymore. I want to remain focused and never to allow anything to bother me, because the more I think about the scandals the more I am disturbed. I don’t want anything that would draw me backwards. I want to face what I’m doing and achieve more for myself .

You have talked so much about your mother. Is she really your mentor?

Yes, she is my mentor. She’s a wonderful woman. After God is my mother. She’s supporting me because not all mother would want to support their children to pursue their dreams. For instance, I studied law, but I’m not practising the profession today. Ordinarily, my parents would have insisted on seeing that I practise my profession. But now, I’m not legal practise; acting is my first love.

I love acting, writing scripts and producing movies. Financially, my mum have been supportive to me. I remember when I produced my first movie, my mum supported me financially. She believes so much in me. During my secondary school days before I would go on stage to dance, my mum would assemble all the required costumes for me. She’s really a wonderful woman, and my mentor.

How would you describe your relationship with the up-and-coming Yoruba actresses?

It has been wonderful. If you have been opportuned to watch my movies, you would notice that I regularly introduce new faces. I believe I have a duty to help the up-and-coming actresses because it’s not easy getting to the top. People talk about sexual harassment in the motion picture industry. I have never been harassed sexually.

If truly, it exists, I would want to discourage the ugly practice. I want the up-and-coming actresses to believe so much in their talents and learn to shun the attitude of looking sideways. It’s God that gives talents and therefore, I see no reason any actress would want to sleep her way to the top. If it’s the will of God for you, you will surely make it. So, I am all out to support the young actresses to prosper.

I don’t want them to pass through what I experienced when I was starting . The stress of walking around town, going from audition to another. I want to give them a true sense of belonging.

Why then, are they castigating you and accusing you of high-handedness and possessing an attitude?

It’s bound to happen. People would talk rubbish when you are doing well. They would want to bring you down; say negative things about you ; some would criticise you excessively. I read in a soft-sell magazine recently concerning one, Toriola Olawunmi who alleged that I was nasty to her because she joined another group called “Oduofa” after she had deserted the “Concuss group’.

I was shocked at this story because I have never had any such encounter with an up-andcoming actress. But certainly, one problem I think I have with them is the fact that they see me as a strict person . I believe when you are here to work with me, you should do your work and go back to your home. I don’t believe in lazing about, or turning into a chatterbox when you are supposed to be working. Those of them who understand me are okay working with me .

When you started in that televison series, “I need to Know” sponsored by Unicef during your undergraduate days, did you envisage the height you have attained today in the industry?

My brother, I didn’t. The only thing I knew then, was that I love acting. Acting is my first love and I think, I ‘ve got the talent. There’s this urge in me to go out there, and showcase what stuff I’m made of. The Bible warned us against burying our talents because God would certainly ask us of it.

How were you selected to be part of the cast of that TV series?

Back then, I was an intern with the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria(APCON). After closing from work, I would go for auditions. One day, I heard about an audition taking place at the former Charly Boy’s residence in Gbagada and I went for the audition. At the end of the audition, I was selected for the pilot and that’s how I got the role. Unfortunately, after featuring in that series, I thought the roles would start coming in droves, but it never did. I had to go back to the auditioning arena again.

How much were you paid for the first time?

We were paid handsomely. It was a United Nations project, so we were paid very well. Once I got my pay, I quickly rush home to give my mum the money for safe keeping.

Let’s talk about your monster hit, ‘Jenifa’ which broke all barriers and fetched you so many mega deals and opened doors for you, was Jenifa part of your life story?

No. Firstly, I’m not from Ahitoro, I’m from Ikorodu area of Lagos State. I’m not a wanna-be like Jenifa. I’m not AIDS/HIV positive like “Jenifa’ There’s nothing that has to do with Funke Akindele in Jenifa. It was just a role I played in the movie.

What’s the story behind Jenifa?

It was a story my young sister told me concerning what happened in their school. I also had similar story during my undergraduate days at the University of Lagos, where female students who lived in hotels would go about sleeping with old men and offering themselves for hire to attend parties. We have a lot of wannabe on campus. They are eager to drive flashy cars and dress expensively just to meet with the standards of some of their girl friends who are living big on campus. They do not know what those girls did to make their money.